Kindergarteners in training

By Callie Clark Miller

From the 3 1/2-foot-tall perspective of a 5-year-old, the side of a school bus is a towering wall of yellow with steps that require a gigantic leap of faith to ascend.

On Thursday, 120 pre-kindergarteners did it together at Jackson's Primary Annex, carefully traversing the steps with a helping hand from the student in front of them.

Once inside, rounded eyes peaked over the backs of seats, and the questions began immediately: "What if I fall out of my seat?" "Is this a fast bus?" "Are we there yet?"

It was the first time most had ever ridden a bus.

The trip was part of a summer program in the Jackson School District designed to prepare the students for their first year of school.

The bus ride is symbolic of a widespread change that has taken place in kindergarten classrooms across the United States over the past two decades.

Local educators say the initial nine months of school is no longer intended for learning just the ABCs and 1-2-3s.

Most students now enter kindergarten already knowing those basics and leave knowing how to add, subtract, read and write.

Both Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts offer pre-kindergarten summer programs to acclimate students prior to the first day of school.

"The hardest thing when a child starts kindergarten is learning how to line up, be quiet in the hallway and raise their hand," said Rhonda Dunham, principal at Franklin Elementary in Cape Girardeau.

The pre-k summer programs teach children how to follow those rules and behave in a classroom. Knowing those things before the first day allows teachers to cover more during the year, giving students a head start that carries over to first grade and potentially their entire educational experience.

"Now, students are more or less expected to come knowing how to write their name, count to 10, that kind of thing," said Stacy Elfrink, a kindergarten teacher at the Primary Annex. "Kindergarten is really like a beginning first grade now."

Elfrink has been a kindergarten teacher for seven years. In that time, she has seen the curriculum for her grade expand greatly, especially in reading and math. She believes those changes have translated to higher test scores in second and third grade.

"In the beginning, I was skeptical, but it's remarkable what they leave knowing," Elfrink said.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128